Allen, Cook Near 5,000 Career Rushing Yards

Bills quarterback Josh Allen and running back James Cook are approaching the 5,000-yard career rushing mark in Buffalo.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Football

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a Buffalo Bills running back in royal blue and red cutting through navy defenders under stadium floodlights. — Bills quarterback Josh Allen and running back James Cook are closing in on 5,000 career rushing yards, with Allen at 4,991 and Cook at 4,966 entering Monday's game against Minnesota. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Josh Allen and James Cook are approaching 5,000 career rushing yards with the Buffalo Bills. Allen entered Monday's game against the Vikings with 4,991 career rushing yards, while Cook had 4,966.

Why it matters

Reaching the milestone would place both players among the franchise's notable rushers, a list that includes Thurman Thomas, O.J. Simpson and Fred Jackson. It also highlights how the Bills' offense has leaned on dual-threat and ground production.

Allen entered the Vikings game with 926 career rushing attempts, 4,991 yards and 88 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Cook had 980 attempts, 4,966 yards and a 5.1-yard average, and he set a career-high 1,621 rushing yards in 2025.

The players

Josh Allen

Allen is the Buffalo Bills quarterback and holds the NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

James Cook

Cook is the Buffalo Bills running back who set a career-high 1,621 rushing yards in 2025.

The details

Allen holds the all-time record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, and his total stood at 88 entering Monday. Cook, who took on his current featured role in mid-2023, is on track to surpass 1,000 rushing yards for a fourth consecutive season.

2025: Cook rushed for a career-high 1,621 yards.
Mid-2023: Cook took on his current featured running back role.
Monday: Bills played the Vikings with both players near the milestone.

Season Trajectory

The pairing of Allen and Cook extends the Bills' tradition of productive ground games anchored by players like Thurman Thomas and O.J. Simpson. Their ongoing production shapes the offense's balance between the quarterback and featured back.

Allen's rushing output adds value in fantasy formats that reward quarterback rushing, while Cook's ongoing 1,000-yard pace matters for running back rosters. Both players' stat lines could influence fantasy lineup decisions in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Track whether Allen and Cook cross 5,000 career yards, since the milestone would tie their rushing production directly to the Bills' offensive identity.